Five Questions With: Jay Freitas

"Ride 2 Recovery covers all the costs of the ride for injured veterans."

Jay Freitas is a Vietnam War veteran who recently gave up his Harley motorcycle for a bicycle. He is a Rhode Island resident and an avid supporter of nonprofit Ride 2 Recovery, which helps injured veterans improve their health and wellness through individual and group cycling. This year’s fifth annual Ride 2 Recovery Minuteman Challenge – a national bike ride that supports the health and wellness of injured veterans began Sept. 7, passing through Rhode Island on Sept. 8, and finishing on Sept. 12.

After retiring from his post as a marketing executive with the U.S. Postal Service, Freitas began supporting Ride 2 Recovery by launching a Project HERO New England program to support local injured veterans’ rehabilitation efforts. He previously volunteered at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he met many of the injured veterans who will ride with him in this year’s Ride 2 Recovery.

PBN: How does cycling help injured and recovering vets and how did this Ride 2 Recovery mission originate?
FREITAS:
The program began when a recreational therapist at the Palo Alto VA called professional cyclist John Wordin for help in developing a bicycling program for injured veterans. They and 16 other cyclists rode from Washington, D.C., to Pennsylvania on the first Ride 2 Recovery Challenge.
Since then, more than 5,000 injured veterans have participated in a week-long ride of 350 to 550 miles. Ride 2 Recovery is a non-profit organization that helps injured veterans improve health and wellness through individual and group cycling. Cycling has proved to be a catalyst in the recovery process by providing a new physical challenge while concurrently helping to cope with the mental challenges.
The first day of each challenge starts off with individuals and small groups, but by day three we are a unit again, just like we were when we were on active duty in the military. The camaraderie we have with other riders like us is healing in itself.

PBN: When did you join the nonprofit Ride-2-Recovery and how has it helped your journey as a veteran helping injured and recovering veterans?
FREITAS:
I joined Ride 2 Recovery two years ago. Prior to joining, I was a peer visitor assisting mostly severely wounded amputees at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I moved back to Rhode Island in 2009 and greatly missed the honor and privilege of doing my small part to assist ill and injured veterans and their families.
One day, I had lunch with David Haines, a former patient at the medical center, who was from North Kingston. David offered me the opportunity to volunteer with Ride 2 Recovery and the journey began.
There’s a Mark Twain quote: “The two most important days in your life are the day you’re born…and the day you find out why.” The most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life was to rejoin the camaraderie of the military. As a Vietnam veteran, I took the macho approach to post traumatic stress. I buried my emotions, sucked it up and moved on with my life. My PTS presented itself as anger. I was not a fun guy to be around.
Forty-three years later, I sought treatment at the Providence VA Medical Center because the anger never went away. When I began to volunteer with ill and injured military personnel, I saw myself in their reactions to being wounded and stress of combat. Now, I’m part of a team, as are all our riders and volunteers.
Today’s military are exceptional individuals. They seek out the challenge of a daunting bike ride and never quit. I’m a bit older than most people I ride with, and people have asked me, ‘Why do you still ride?’ Riding with these men and women is a privilege and an honor – it is also “the day I found out why” and the most rewarding experience of my life.
So, now we have begun the challenge of establishing a Project HERO New England. Our goal is to recruit and train active duty, reserve, National Guard and veterans to learn to ride a bike, set and achieve goals – whether it’s to make it down their local bike path or become a national Para-Olympic champion. The severely injured often deal with debilitating injuries, both mental and physical. Losing limbs or suffering from mental injuries can affect your ability to function – often resulting in obesity, followed by diabetes, stroke or heart attacks. Anyone can ride a bike. If you have a disability, we’ll fit you with a bike you can ride. Our founder, John Wordin says, “I’ve never met anyone we couldn’t get on a bike.”

- Advertisement -

PBN: On the morning of Sept. 8 the Ride passed through Rhode Island. How much support was there?
FREITAS:
We started from the Garden of Heroes with a send-off ceremony with U.S. Sen. Jack Reed; Dr. Susan MacKenzie, director of the Providence VA Medical Center; state Rep. Jan Malik, chairperson of the Veterans Committee; Attorney General Peter Kilmartin and representatives from the veterans’ community.
On Sunday evening, the 150 injured veterans who are from across the U.S., spread about the city to enjoy the fabulous Providence restaurants. Seafood and Italian cuisine were the obvious favorites.
As the cyclists trekked from Providence to Hartford, the main topics of conversation were the beauty of the state and its homes as well as the big hills. Groups and individuals who came out to cheer kept up the spirits of the riders as they conquered the 79-mile route.

PBN: How will the funds raised be used, and what is the most important use?
FREITAS:
Funds are raised in advance of the Challenge from major sponsors such as United Healthcare, the USO, United Airlines and many more. The Challenges are part of our rehabilitation program from either a military medical facility or from a VA Medical Center.
Ride 2 Recovery covers all the costs of the ride for injured veterans – hotels, food, bikes and clothing as well as both mechanical and medical support. This allows us to focus on our personal healing instead of finances or the logistics of the week. By providing bikes for training and the opportunity to ride alongside other injured veterans, Ride 2 Recovery shows each of us that we can take part in society, that we can do something that is physical and healthy and that cycling heals the invisible wounds also.

PBN: When and why did you launch the Project Hero New England program and what was participation like for this ride?
FREITAS:
We began our Project HERO New England this past November, getting to know the staff of the Providence VA Medical centers and meeting with the chiefs of key departments and their staff. They are protective of their patients, as they should be. It took some time and many meetings to gain their trust and confidence.
Unlike other regions of the country, there are not any large military bases where we can recruit potential riders. Recently, we met with the director of the Providence VA Medical Center, Susan MacKenzie, who is an enthusiastic supporter of recreational therapy and an active leader in our partnership with the VA.
We have begun to get referrals of potential riders from her staff and have established alliances to serve our mutual clients, the veterans of New England. We have recently begun to ride with a Cycling Clinic organized by Recreational Therapist Jenny McLaughlin at the Brockton VA. The Minuteman Challenge will include over 160 riders from all across the country. Several of our Project HERO New England riders and volunteers will participate.
We look forward to continue to grow our ridership and hopefully conduct a New England Challenge, modeled after our National Challenge Series. Our goal is to create awareness of Project HERO New England by riding through all six New England states on a 3- or 4-day ride, touring the beauty that is New England.
Hopefully, many New Englanders will turn out to support us in our efforts. Anyone who wants to join as a rider, volunteer or benefactor can contact me by email jayf@ride2recovery.com or cell phone (401) 336-9730.

No posts to display